The Hindu : National : Valley need not be kept under veils, says Mufti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 21, 2004

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National

Valley need not be kept under veils, says Mufti

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 20. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, said here today that the "reconciliatory" process between India and Pakistan has resulted in a perceptible change in the mindset of the State people. The mood is more relaxed and the people have realised that dialogue is the only way to peace.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Sayeed, however, said that there was no need to "rush through'' the dialogue process. "People are responding to the new situation and efforts should now be to create a conducive atmosphere for keeping the dialogue and reconciliatory process on.''

`A boost to process'

Referring to the meeting between the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, in New York, he said it had given a boost to the dialogue process. "Similarly, the visit of Pakistani journalists to Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month and the proposed visit of the Pakistan Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, to India next month, will further push the process.''

Mr. Sayeed said there was no need to keep the valley under veils. "Free movement of people to and from Kashmir is the right approach. Kashmir is still the show-case despite the black patch we have gone through.''

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